Patricia Irene Folger Henderson

Patricia Irene Folger Henderson (“Pat”), 95, passed away peacefully at Friendship Village of Dublin, Ohio on December 17, 2025. She is survived by two daughters, Melissa Henderson Bogard (Rudy) of Marietta, Ohio and Belinda Henderson Simile (Daniel, Jr.) of Powell, Ohio; grandchildren, Christopher Henderson Whittaker (Erica) of Parkersburg, WV, Danielle Patricia Simile of Bayonne, NJ, Amanda Michelle Simile of Boston, MA, Meshaum Bogard of Cutler, Ohio, Sasha Bogard McGory (Grant) of Woodbridge, VA; great grandson, Joseph Whittaker; nieces and nephews; as well as extended family and a few longtime friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 57 years, Richard H. (“Dick”) Henderson, grandson, Cory Bryce Whittaker, sister, Shirley Folger Meyers, brother, David A. Folger, and parents, Donald F. and Mary Martena Witz Folger. She was born in Newark, Ohio on January 3, 1930, and graduated from Newark H.S. in 1947 and then attended the Newark Hospital School of Nursing until she moved to Columbus in 1950. While living in Columbus she graduated from the Vogue Modeling Studio in 1951. Patricia loved the arts and instructed in voice and dramatics while modeling and performing in theater groups locally. She also instructed at Arthur Murray Dance Studios and played electric organ, piano and guitar at the Blue Danube on North High Street Friday and Saturday nights in the mid-1950s. She worked at The Athletic Club on the Ohio State University campus before taking a job at the ‘nerve center’ (aka the switchboard) of Columbus Motor Freight. She met her future husband, Richard, through mutual friends, and married in 1958. They moved to Upper Arlington shortly after, where they lived for 45 years and were longtime members of Upper Arlington Lutheran Church before moving to Florida. Patricia was a ‘stay at home’ mom who had cookies and milk on hand for after school snack, and lunch ready after her girls walked home from school for lunch every day except “pizza day.” She was a Bluebird/Campfire Girl troop leader and an organizer of neighbor children caroling parties and singing outings to local nursing care centers. She was a “lamby-cake” baker at Easter and an empathetic mom who sensed when you needed a note to stay home from school even when you were not “doctor-sanctioned sick.” Patricia enjoyed singing and performing with church choirs, the Columbus Symphony Chorus and Sweet Adelines Columbus, when she and her husband were not traveling in their RV with family or dear friends. Campout weekends in Hocking Hills and Ohio State Parks with her husband, children and grandchildren and cross-country treks to the National Parks were her favorite destinations, although she also traveled overseas with her husband and friends. When not traveling, she enjoyed hosting parties and attending music and theater performances. In later years, Patricia developed an interest in the history and beauty of historic carousels and began collecting carousel items and traveling across the country with friends to visit existing historic carousels and museums. Two of Patricia’s horses were donated to the Carousel Museum in Sandusky, Ohio. Patricia and Richard retired to Indian River Colony Club in Viera, Florida to enjoy sunnier days, meet new friends, and enjoy long-time friends. There she engaged in water aerobics, riding her recumbent trike, and painting, all of which she continued until age 90 when she returned to Columbus to be close to family. Patricia was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved her husband and daughters dearly and will be greatly missed. The family would like to thank the caring staff at Friendship Village of Dublin for their friendship, assistance, and wonderful care in Patricia’s final years, and for the compassionate care of the Hospice staff from National Church Residences. A small service at the columbarium at the Ohio Western National Cemetery in Seville, Ohio will be planned for a future date. Memorial contributions: The Merry-Go-Round Museum, 301 Jackson St., Sandusky, OH 44870 or Friendship Village of Dublin, 6000 Riverside Dr., Dublin, OH 43017 .

Patricia Irene Folger Henderson

January 3, 1930 - December 17, 2025